Roller support assembly for machine carriage

ABSTRACT

A machine tool has an elongated bed and includes a carriage supported for reciprocal movement longitudinally of the bed by a roller support assembly which comprises a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending roller units positioned between the bed and carriage and in rolling engagement with both the bed and carriage. Each roller unit includes an elongated support member which carries at least one group of cylindrical rollers. The rollers are arranged in longitudinal series and journalled on an associated set of axles mounted in cantilever position along the support member.

Karbowski June 11, 1974 ROLLER SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR MACHINE CARRIAGEPrimary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McCormick,Paulding &

[76] Inventor: Sylvester G. Karbowski, 1343 Quinnipiac, New Haven, Conn.Huber 22 Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 [57] BST PP 323,976 A machine tool has anelongated bed and includes a I carriage supported for reciprocalmovement longitudi- [52 us. (:1 51/231 308/3 A 308/6 R nally of t bed bya roller Support assembly which 51 int. Cl 132 41, 47/02 comprises aPair transversely Spaced and [58] Field of Search 51/231. 308/3 A 6 Rnally extending roller units positioned between the 1 bed and carriageand in rolling engagement with both [56] 7 References Cited the bed andcarriage. Each roller unit includes an elongated support member whichcarries at least one UNITED STATES PATENTS group of cylindrical rollers.The rollers are arranged in v l gomell longitudinal series andjournalled on an associated set 1 eeney of axles mounted in cantileverposition along the sup- 2,l7l,854 9/1939 Lee 308/6 R p member FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,266,350 5/1961 France 308/6 R 10 Clams 7Drawmg F'gures \N' 38 32 V 40 Q I 2 36 a l4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates in general to machines of the i type which have areciprocally movable carriage and deals moreparticularly with animproved roller assembly for supporting the carriage in a machine of theaforedescribed general type. The roller assembly of the presentinvention is adapted to provide support for a movable machine carriagealong a substantialportion of its length for smooth rolling engagementwith a supporting bed or frame. The unitary construction of the rollerunits and the manner in which these units cooperate with the carriageand bed of the machinefacilitate convenient periodic machine maintenanceas, for example, cleaning and lubrication, with minimum machinedowntime. The roller assembly of the present in- SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved rollerassembly is provided for supporting the carriage of a machine forrolling movement relative to the bed or frame thereof. The rollersupport assembly comprises at least one roller unit which includes atleast one group of rollers disposed between the carriage and bed of themachine and in rolling engagement with the ways thereof, and means formaintaining the rollers in longitudinally spaced series and axiallyparallel relation with the axes thereof disposed transversely of theways. When the roller support assembly of the present invention isprovided as a conversion unit for an existing machine which has aslidably supported carriage and a rack and pinion drive mechanism formoving the carriage, a shim may be provided as part of the assembly. Theshim has a thickness substantially equal to the diameter of the rollersand is positioned between the rack and the carriage to maintain the rackin intermeshing engagement with the drive pinion and thereby compensatefor the change of position of the carriage relative to the bed whichresults from the positioning of the roller assembly therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a fragmentary sideelevational view of a machine tool or surface grinder embodying thepresent in- FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another rollerunit.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view taken generally along theline 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The roller supportassembly of the present invention maybe provided as original equipment,that is as an integral part of a machine, or, if desired, may comprise aconversion unit foruse with an existing machine. In the drawing anddescription which follows, the present invention is illustrated anddescribed with reference to a conventional machine or surface grinder 10of the type which includes a reciprocally movable carriage slidablysupported on a bed. However, the illustrated grinder 10 is provided witha roller support assembly or conversion unit embodying the presentinvention and indicated generally bythe reference numeral 12. Theassembly 12 comprises a pair of roller units respectively generallyindicated at Hand 16, a shim l8, and a retaining member 20, all of whichwill be hereinafter further described.

Considering first the grinder 10 in its original form, or beforeconversion, it comprises a frameor bed 22 which supports a carriage 24for horizontal reciprocal movement in'a longitudinal direction, asindicated by the directional arrow in FIG. 1. A conventional magneticchuck 26 mounted on a carriage 24 retains workpiece W which moves withthe carriage and relative to a grinding wheel 28. The carriage 24 isdriven in one and an opposite direction relative to the bed 22 by a rackand pinion mechanism which includesa drive pinion 30 joumalled toreciprocate relative to the bed and in driving engagement with a rack 32mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 24. The carriage has a pairof transversely spaced upper ways which extend longitudinally thereoffor complementary sliding engagement with a pair of lower ways on thebed 22.

The bed 22 preferably comprises a metal casting which has a pair ofupwardly facing lower ways, generally indicated at 34 and 36, formed onthe upper surface thereof and v which extend longitudinally of the bed.The lower way 34 comprises a horizontal disposed guide surface 38.Theother lower way 36 has a generally V-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration and is defined by a pair of elongated angularly disposedguide surfaces 40,40. The drive pinion 30 is joumalled in the base 22between the ways 34 and 36, as best shown in FIG, 3, and is connected toa conventional-reciprocating drive mechanism (not shown).

Considering now the carriage 24 in further detail, it preferablycomprises a metal casting which has a pair of downwardly facing'upperways formed thereon and respectively generally indicated by the numerals42 and 44.'The upper way 42 is defined by a substantially horizontallydisposed bearing surface 46 which extends longitudinally of thecarriage. The other upper way 44 has a V-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration to complement the cross-sectional configuration of thelower way 36 and is formed by a pair of longitudinally elongated andangularly disposed bearing surfaces 48, 48. The upper ways 42 and 44 areadapted. for respective complementary sliding engagement with the lowerways 34 and 36 whereby the carriage 24 is normally supported forreciprocal sliding movement relative to the bed 22. However, aspreviously noted, the illustrated machine is provided with arollersupport assembly 12 which comprises the roller units 14 and 16. Eachroller unit includes at least one group of rollers maintained inlongitudinally spaced series and axially parallel relation ashereinafter further described. Each roller unit is disposed between anassociated upper and lower way in rolling engagement therewith as bestshown in FIG. 3, whereby to support the carriage 24 for rolling travelin one and an opposition longitudinal direction relative to the bed 22.

Further considering the roller unit 14, and referring particularly toFIGS. 6 and 7, the unit 14 comprises a plurality of axially elongatedcylindrical rollers 50, 50. Each roller 50 is journalled on anassociated axle 52 which is mounted in a cantilever position on asupport member or bar 44 and projects outwardly therefrom. The supportmember or bar 54 and its associated axles 52, 52 maintain the rollers50, 50 in longitudinally spaced series and axially parallel relation toeach other.

The roller unit 16 is somewhat similar to the unit 14, previouslydescribed, but includes an elongated support member 54a which supportstwo groups of cylindrical rollers designated G1 and G2. Each groupincludes a plurality of rollers 50a, 50a supported by an associated setof axles 52a, 52a. However, the rollers 50a, 50a are of slighly largerdiameter than the rollers 50, 50 previously dscribed. Each axle 52athreadably engages the support member 54a, projects outwardly therefrom,and has an associated roller 50a journalled thereon. The two groups ofrollers G1 and G2 are angularly arranged relative to each other ingenerally V- shaped configuration to respectively complement thecross-sectional configurations of the upper and lower ways 36 and 44.

In converting the machine 10, the carriage 24 which rests on the bed 22is first removed therefrom. Thereafter, the roller unit 14 is positionedon the lower way 34 with the rollers 50, 50 extending axiallytransversely of the guide surface 38 and in rolling engagement therewithas best shown in FIG. 3. The retaining member 20 which, as shown,comprises an elongated member or angular cross-section is secured to thebed 22 by suitable fasteners in transversely spaced'relation to thelower way 34. The elongated support member 54 is positioned between thelower way 34 and the retaining member 20 and is thereby maintained inlongitudinal alignment with the lower way 34, so that the rollers 50, 50extend axially transversely thereof to assure smooth rolling engagementbetween the carriage 24 and the bed 22.

The roller unit 16 is positioned on the lower way 36 with the rollers ineach of the groups G1 and G2 in respective rolling engagement with anassociated one of the guide surfaces 40, 40. Due to the V-shapedconfiguration of the lower way 36 and the complementary configuration ofthe roller unit 16, the latter unit will remain in aligned relation.with the way 36 at all times, so that the rollers 50a, 50a in each groupextend axially transversely of an associated guide surface 40.

When the roller assembly 12 is positioned between the bed 22 and thecarriage 24, the carriage assembly is raised above the bed a distancesubstantially equal to the diameter of the rollers 50, 50 associatedwith the roller unit 14. The shim 18 is provided to compensate for thischange of relative postion between the bed and carriage. Morespecifically, the shim 18 is provided for shimming the rack 32downwardly to maintain it in intenneshing engagement with the pinion 30.The shim 18 has a thickness measured in a vertical direction, as itappers in FIG. 3, which is substantially equal to the diameter of therollers 50, 50.

The length of the roller units which comprise the roller assembly 12,the number of rollers in each unit, and the longitudinal spacing betweenthe rollers will be determined by the length of the machine carriage,its weight, and the load which is must support. The assembly 12 has beenillustrated and described with reference to a conversion unit for anexisting machine; however, it should be understood that the rollersupport assembly of the present invention may be provided as originalequipment in any machine wherein a carriage is supported and arrangedfor reciprocal movement relative to a bed. When the present rollerassembly is provided as original equipment, it will be apparent that thedrive mechanism may be designed to eliminate need for the shim 18. Itwill be further apparent that appropriate means for positivelymaintaining the roller unit 14 in longitudinal alignment with associated.ways may be incorporated in the design of the machine to eliminate needfor the retaining member 20.

I claim:

1. In a machine, an elongated bed having a longitudinally extendingV-shaped groove opening upwardly therethrough and defining one lower wayincluding a pair of generally .upwardly facing angularly disposed andlongitudinally extending guide surfaces, a carriage including one upperway having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration generallycomplementing the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration of said lowerway, said upper way including a pair of generally downwardly facingangularly disposed and longitudinally extending bearing surfaces, and aroller support assembly disposed between and in rolling engagment withsaid bed and said carriage for supporting said carriage for reciprocalmovement longitudinally of said bed and comprising a roller unitincluding an elongated rigid bar disposed in said groove and extendinglongitu dinally therein, a first set of axles including a longitudinallyspaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position onsaid bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantileverrelation thereto, a second set of axles including another longitudinallyspaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position onsaid bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantileverrelation thereto, said first and second sets defining an angletherebetween substantially equal to the angle between said guidesurfaces, a first group of axially elongated generally cylindricalrollers equal in number to said axles in said first set, each of saidrollers in said first group being journalled on an associated one ofsaid axles in said first set and in rolling engagement with one of saidguide surfaces and an associated one of said bearing surfaces, and asecond group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal innumber to said axles in said second set, each of said rollers in saidsecond group being joumalled on an associated one of said axles in saidsecond set and in rolling engagement with the other of said guidesurfaces and the other of said bearing surfaces associated with saidother of said guide surfaces.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bed includesanother lower way defined by a horizontally disposed longitudinallyextending and upgitudinally extending and downwardly facing bearingsurface, and said roller support assembly includes another roller unitwhich comprises another elongated rigid bar extending horizontally ofsaid bed, a third set of axles including a longitudinallyspaced seriesof axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said other barand extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relationthereto, and a third group of axially elongated generally cylindricalrollers equal in number to said axles in said third set, each of saidrollers in said third group being journalled on an associated one ofsaid axles in said third set and in rolling engagement with saidhorizontally disposed guide surface and said horizontally disposedbearing surface.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including means for retainingsaid other bar in parallel alignment with said other lower way.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rollers in saidfirst group and said second group are of larger diameter than therollers in said third group;

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said axles isthreadably connected to an associated one of said bars comprising saidone and said other bar. i

6. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining meanscomprises an elongated retaining member and means for securing saidretaining member to said bed in longitudinal alignment with andtransversely spaced from said horizontally disposed guide surface, saidother bar being disposed between said retaining member in saidhorizontally disposed guide surface.

7. A roller support assembly for a machine having an elongated bedincluding a longitudinally extending V-' shaped groove opening upwardlytherethrough and defining one lower way including a pair of generallyupwardly facing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending guidesurfaces and a carriage including one upper way having a generallyV-shaped cross-sectional configuration generally complementing theV-shaped cross-sectional configuration of said lower way, said upper wayincluding a pair of generally downwardly facing angularly disposed andlongitudinally extending bearing surfaces, said roller support assemblycomprising a roller unit for positioning in said groove to extendlongitudinally therein between said bed and said carriage and in rollingengagement therewith and including an elongated rigid bar, a first setof axles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallelaxles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transverselyoutwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, a second set ofaxles including another longitudinally spaced series of axially parallelaxles mounted in fixed position on said bar and extending transverslyoutwardly therefromin cantilever relation thereto, said first and secondsets defining an angle therebetween substantially equal to the anglebetween said guide surfaces, a first group of axially elongatedgenerally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles in saidfirst set, each of said rollers in said first group being jour- 'naledon an associated one of said axles in said first set,

and a second group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollersequal in number to said axles in said second set, each of said rollersin said second group being journalled on an associated one of said axlesin said second set.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the machine bedincludes another lower way defined by a horizontally disposedlongitudinally extending and upwardly facing guide surface, the machinecarriage includes another upper way defined by a horizontally disposedlongitudinally extending and downwardly facing bearing surface, and saidroller support assembly includes another roller unit for positioningbetween saidother lower way and said other upper way to extendlongitudinally'thereof in rolling engagement therewith and whichcompriss another elongated rigid bar, a third set of axles including alongitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixedposition on said other bar and extending transversely outwardlytherefrom in cantilever relation thereto, and a third group of axiallyelongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to said axles insaid third set, each of said rollers in said third group beingjournalled on an associated one of said axles in said third set.

9. A roller support assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the machinehas a drive mechanism which includes a downwardly facing rack mounted onthe carriage and a drive pinion journalled on the bed for drivinglyengaging the rack and said roller support assembly includes a shim forpositioning; between the carriage and the rack for maintaining the rackin engagement with the pinion when said roller assembly is positionedbetween the upper and lower way in rolling engagement therewith, saidshim having a thickness substantially equal to the diameter of saidrollers in said third group.

10. A roller support assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein saidsupport assembly includes an elongated retaining member and means formounting said retaining member on the bed in parallel alignment with andtransversely spaced from the other lower way to permit positioning ofsaid other bar between said retaining s UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFECATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 815193 Dated June 11, 1974Inventor(s) Sylvester G Karbowski It certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

C01. 1, line 26, "was should be has--.

C01. line 16, "44" should be --54---.

Col. lime 28, "dseribed" should be ---described--.

C01, line 29, after "member" insert --or bar- 0 line 32, after "in"insert -a--.

Col. line 42, "or" should be ---of-- si ned andsea led this 19th day ofNovember 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: v

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. I C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM P0405 (0459) i USCOMM-DC scan-pm I i 11.5. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFlCE! .Q" (It-b334,

1. In a machine, an elongated bed having a longitudinally extendingV-shaped groove opening upwardly therethrough and defining one lower wayincluding a pair of generally upwardly facing angularly disposed andlongitudinally extending guide surfaces, a carriage including one upperway having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration generallycomplementing the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration of said lowerway, said upper way including a pair of generally downwardly facingangularly disposed and longitudinally extending bearing surfaces, and aroller support assembly disposed between and in rolling engagment withsaid bed and said carriage for supporting said carriage for reciprocalmovement longitudinally of said bed and comprising a roller unitincluding an elongated rigid bar disposed in said groove and extendinglongitudinally therein, a first set of axles including a longitudinallyspaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position onsaid bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantileverrelation thereto, a second set of axles including another longitudinallyspaced series of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position onsaid bar and extending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantileverrelation thereto, said first and second sets defining an angletherebetween substantially equal to the angle between said guidesurfaces, a first group of axially elongated generally cylindricalrollers equal in number to said axles in said first set, each of saidrollers in said first group being journalled on an associated one ofsaid axles in said first set and in rolling engagement with one of saidguide surfaces and an associated one of said bearing surfaces, and asecond group of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal innumber to said axles in said second set, each of said rollers in saidsecond group being journalled on an associated one of said axles in saidsecond set and in rolling engagement with the other of said guidesurfaces and the other of said bearing surfaces associated with saidother of said guide surfaces.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1wherein said bed includes another lower way defined by a horizontallydisposed longitudinally extending and upwardly facing guide surface,said carriage includes another upper way defined by a horizontallydisposed longitudinally extending and downwardly facing bearing surface,and said roller support assembly includes another roller unit whichcomprises another elongated rigid bar extending horizontally of saidbed, a third set of axles including a longitudinally spaced series ofaxially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said other bar andextending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relationthereto, and a third group of axially elongated generally cylindricalrollers equal in number to said axles in said third set, each of saidrollers in said third group being journalled on an associated one ofsaid axles in said third set and in rolling engagement with saidhorizontally disposed guide surface and said horizontally disposedbearing surface.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 includingmeans for retaining said other bar in parallel alignment with said otherlower way.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein therollers in said first group and said second group are of larger diameterthan the rollers in said third group.
 5. The combination as set forth inclaim 2 wherein each of said axles is threadably connected to anassociated one of said bars comprising said one and said other bar. 6.The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining meanscomprises an elongated retaining member and means for securing saidretaIning member to said bed in longitudinal alignment with andtransversely spaced from said horizontally disposed guide surface, saidother bar being disposed between said retaining member in saidhorizontally disposed guide surface.
 7. A roller support assembly for amachine having an elongated bed including a longitudinally extendingV-shaped groove opening upwardly therethrough and defining one lower wayincluding a pair of generally upwardly facing angularly disposed andlongitudinally extending guide surfaces and a carriage including oneupper way having a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configurationgenerally complementing the V-shaped cross-sectional configuration ofsaid lower way, said upper way including a pair of generally downwardlyfacing angularly disposed and longitudinally extending bearing surfaces,said roller support assembly comprising a roller unit for positioning insaid groove to extend longitudinally therein between said bed and saidcarriage and in rolling engagement therewith and including an elongatedrigid bar, a first set of axles including a longitudinally spaced seriesof axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said bar andextending transversely outwardly therefrom in cantilever relationthereto, a second set of axles including another longitudinally spacedseries of axially parallel axles mounted in fixed position on said barand extending transversly outwardly therefrom in cantilever relationthereto, said first and second sets defining an angle therebetweensubstantially equal to the angle between said guide surfaces, a firstgroup of axially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in numberto said axles in said first set, each of said rollers in said firstgroup being journaled on an associated one of said axles in said firstset, and a second group of axially elongated generally cylindricalrollers equal in number to said axles in said second set, each of saidrollers in said second group being journalled on an associated one ofsaid axles in said second set.
 8. The combination as set forth in claim7 wherein the machine bed includes another lower way defined by ahorizontally disposed longitudinally extending and upwardly facing guidesurface, the machine carriage includes another upper way defined by ahorizontally disposed longitudinally extending and downwardly facingbearing surface, and said roller support assembly includes anotherroller unit for positioning between said other lower way and said otherupper way to extend longitudinally thereof in rolling engagementtherewith and which compriss another elongated rigid bar, a third set ofaxles including a longitudinally spaced series of axially parallel axlesmounted in fixed position on said other bar and extending transverselyoutwardly therefrom in cantilever relation thereto, and a third group ofaxially elongated generally cylindrical rollers equal in number to saidaxles in said third set, each of said rollers in said third group beingjournalled on an associated one of said axles in said third set.
 9. Aroller support assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the machine hasa drive mechanism which includes a downwardly facing rack mounted on thecarriage and a drive pinion journalled on the bed for drivingly engagingthe rack and said roller support assembly includes a shim forpositioning between the carriage and the rack for maintaining the rackin engagement with the pinion when said roller assembly is positionedbetween the upper and lower way in rolling engagement therewith, saidshim having a thickness substantially equal to the diameter of saidrollers in said third group.
 10. A roller support assembly as set forthin claim 8 wherein said support assembly includes an elongated retainingmember and means for mounting said retaining member on the bed inparallel alignment with and transversely spaced from the other lower wayto permit positioning of said other bar between said retaining memberand said other lower way.